This is a Full-time position in Edmonton posted August 24, 2019.

“Despite
great challenges we believe unhealthy cycles can be broken, new opportunities
created and, through healing, health restored.”

Would you like to be a part of an organization that works
with some of Edmonton’s most vulnerable populations and counts on the
professionalism, expertise, insight, and passion of its staff to develop programs
and services for the clients they work with? Join us at Boyle Street Community
Services.

“We stand with our clients, side by side, patiently and for
as long as they want – a constant and consistent caring force”

Boyle Street Community Services
(BSCS) is a values-driven organization that believes our clients are the
experts in their own life. Your job will be to foster innovation with your team
alongside our clients. If your values are aligned with our values and beliefs listed
at: https://www.boylestreet.org/mission-history, please consider joining our team.

This position comes with a comprehensive dental,
health and drug benefits package, three weeks of annual vacation, and numerous
professional development and training opportunities.

Job Purpose:

The Cultural Support Worker is
part of a team that provides Former Indian Residential
School Students and family members of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and
Girls (MMIWG), and their immediate family member(s) and/or support person(s),
have access to an appropriate level of mental wellness support services to
safely address a broad spectrum of mental wellness issues related to the disclosure
of ambiguous loss and childhood abuse(s).

KEY AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITIES:

To provide cultural support services to
Former IRS Students, family
members of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls and their immediate
family member(s) and/or support person(s)paying particular attention to those
individuals in crisis;

Provide cultural support around a wide range
of issues resulting from the legacy of the residential school system, including
the intergenerational effects and impacts related to ambiguous loss; in a
manner that is sensitive to the unique needs of the inner city/homeless
population;

Provide cultural and community supports
throughout the remaining IRS processes and ongoing investigations of missing
family members and developing aftercare cultural supports

Work within agency and its partners to
provide other opportunities to Inner City/Homeless Former students and family
members of missing women and girls for cultural healing, including, but not
limited to, sweats, feasts, healing circles and/or pipe ceremonies

Work with agency staff to educate about
cultural practices and traditions, as well as the IRS legacy, MMIWG, in order
that they may be more sensitive, and more adequately respond, to the unique
needs of community members who are accessing their programs.

Ensure that Former IRS
Students and Family of MMIWG receive counselling support services by a)
referring them to the appropriate Health Canada IRS
RHSP Regional Coordinator for a determination of their eligibility for
professional counselling services; and, b) ensuring that respective counsellors
are sensitive to the unique situation of homeless IRS
Students (MMIWG family members)

When possible, attend and provide cultural
support to Former IRS Students who
request such support at hearings or events related to healing from the impacts
of being a former student, or families of MMIWG

Build relationships with other Cultural
Support Providers and RSHW’s nationally and regionally to develop a forum for
discussion of best practices and sharing of approaches and experiences

Provide access to debriefing opportunities
for Elder(s)/Front Line Agency Staff to minimize the potential impacts of
vicarious trauma associated with the provision of support to Former IRS Students, MMIWG and their immediate family
member(s) and/or support person(s);

Qualifications:

Education:

Applicants with years of experience working in the inner city, with
relevant knowledge of Indigenous history, culture and practice within a harm
reduction strategy will be considered. Post-secondary in Social sciences would
be an asset.

Skills, Abilities and
Attitudes:

Displays proven ability to work in a
respectful, non-biased client-centered manner, meeting community members where
they are at in life

Possesses excellent networking and
communication skills

Flexibility and adaptability to change and
schedule, may work weekends and evenings

Possesses an ability to work in a stressful Harm
Reduction environment and deal with difficult, sometimes abusive, clients

Ability to travel within Edmonton, but also
to other communities when required

Respectful and open minded of other
race/cultural teachings

Be and maintain good spiritual and mental
health

Experience:

Knowledge of the Indian Residential School
System and the effects this system has had on Former Students and their
families as well as Ambiguous loss and impacts of grief and loss

Understanding of childhood trauma and various
healing methods

An understanding of the Indian Residential
Schools Settlement Agreement and dynamics of families of MMIWG

Knowledge of protocols when working with
Elders and external and internal resources

Experience of your own personal healing
journey.

Criminal Record and Child Intervention Checks (results will
be reviewed on a case by case basis)

Closing Date: Until
Suitable Candidate is Found

Interviews will take
place at our office at 10116 105 Avenue

Boyle Street Community
Services is an equal opportunity employer. We value the diversity of the
communities we serve, and are committed to engaging and developing a diverse
and inclusive workforce. Boyle Street Community Services welcomes applications
from First Nation, Inuit, Métis, New Canadian, differently-abled, and LGBTQ2S
communities.

How to Apply

Please email your resume and cover letter to: Twilson@Boylestreet.org. Please include 19-039BSCS, Cultural Support Worker in the Subject Line of the email. In the cover letter please state how you heard about this position and why you are suitable for the position.